The upcoming FA Cup third-round match between Arsenal and Manchester United on Sunday evening was already highly anticipated, but Mikel Arteta’s comments following Arsenal’s loss to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg have added extra tension to the fixture. Arteta’s remarks have sparked further intrigue in the world’s oldest football competition.
Arteta Voices Frustration with Ball After Defeat
After the game at the Emirates Stadium last Tuesday, Arteta expressed his frustration during the press conference, criticizing the ball used in the match. He complained that his players struggled to control the ball, which led to difficulties in getting it into the net or even within the goalposts.
Premier League Responds to Arteta’s Criticism
In response to Arteta’s comments, the Premier League issued an official statement, clarifying the ball’s quality. The statement read: “This ball has been subjected to FIFA quality tests, meets professional standards, and is used successfully in other major European leagues, including Serie A and La Liga. All clubs play with the same ball, and we have not received any other complaints in the 88 matches played in the Carabao Cup this season.”
The Sun Reveals Arsenal’s Shot Accuracy in League Cup and Other Competitions
The British newspaper The Sun presented statistics showing that Arsenal had a shooting accuracy of 53% in the League Cup, hitting the target with 27 of their 51 shots on the way to the semi-finals. This percentage closely mirrors the team’s performance in the Premier League, where Arsenal has made 102 out of 197 shots on target, a rate of about 52%.
Arsenal’s Champions League Shooting Accuracy Mirrors League Performance
In the Champions League, Arsenal’s shooting accuracy stands at 58%, with 33 of 57 shots on target across their six games so far. These figures challenge Arteta’s claims about the ball being the cause of his team’s struggles in the Carabao Cup defeat to Newcastle.
